The Gauteng government’s attempt to negotiate with violent taxi organisations sent out the wrong message about crime, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Tuesday.
The DA’s Gauteng transport spokesperson, James Swart, said bus drivers in Alexandra in Johannesburg had been attacked recently.
He said the province had reportedly opted to negotiate with the two taxi organisations involved.
”The authorities should not be negotiating with criminals. By doing so they are granting the taxi drivers’ fear of legitimate competition the status of legitimate grievances.”
”This sends exactly the wrong message and highlights the unwillingness of the police to do their job properly,” he said.
Not all taxi organisations were guilty of criminal acts, but those which condoned them gave the whole industry a bad name.
Swart said the province should bring ”the full force of the law against taxi operators who are prepared to break the law and even use violence in pursuit of commercial gain”. — Sapa